Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson set himself up for a lucrative new contract during his outstanding record-setting 2011-12 season. Now, how much more will he be worth if he walks away from here with a Norris Trophy in his back pocket following the NHL Awards on Wednesday?

LAS VEGAS — Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson set himself up for a lucrative new contract during his outstanding record-setting 2011-12 season.

Now, how much more will he be worth if he walks away from here with a Norris Trophy in his back pocket following the NHL Awards on Wednesday?

Not much, according to general manager Bryan Murray.

While you might think that Murray has mixed emotions about Karlsson winning the honour because it would force Senators owner Eugene Melnyk to open his wallet even wider on a new contract, Murray insists that’s not the case.

“We’re cheering like crazy for him to win,” says Murray. “It’s not going to change one penny. People have suggested it (will), but we all know where we are with this guy. I’ve made no secret of it with Erik and his agents. We all know this is a good hockey player and this is a guy we want in our fold for a number of years.

“We think he is, and hopefully we’re right, on the upswing of his career and he should be an exciting player for Ottawa fans to watch for a lot of years.”

Murray and Craig Oster, Karlsson’s agent, are planning to meet face-to-face here in the next few days, during a break in the action from Board of Governors meetings Tuesday and the NHL Awards presentation Wednesday. What better place to talk big money than the spot where casinos dot the landscape as far as the eye can see?

If you were betting (and, really, who doesn’t drop a few dollars while strolling along The Strip?) Karlsson will likely land a salary somewhere in the $6.5-$7 million range.

Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty’s eight-year, $56 million contract, signed on the eve of the 2011-12 season, would appear to be best comparable. Murray, however, isn’t talking specifics about the potential length of a new contract for Karlsson. The preliminary talks haven’t yet reached that stage.

“I don’t think that’s fair, (the term) may change because of (the annual salary),” he says. “We’ve talked about where we probably should be looking to go, but we haven’t got into numbers in particular. We have an idea of where we want to be and they understand that. I think it’s just a matter of sitting down, with a bit of a framework and then try to fill it in.”

THE LATEST HOT TALK: Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Rick Nash continues to figure prominently in trade speculation, adding to the intrigue leading up to the entry draft Friday and Saturday in Pittsburgh. The Blue Jackets are scheduled to pick second behind the Edmonton Oilers, but all bets are off at this point. On Monday, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren told Philadelphia reporters that he “knew nothing” about rumblings that Nash had vetoed a potential trade to the Flyers on the weekend. Keep in mind that Holmgren was busy at last June’s draft in Minnesota, trading both Jeff Carter and Mike Richards … The NHL’s board of governors are expected to discuss the fragile financial state of the Stanley Cup runner-up New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said last month that Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek was on the verge of selling a majority stake in the debt-ridden franchise to a mysterious “Ontario group.” On Monday, however, the New York Post reported that unless the Devils have re-financed their debt by Aug. 14, the league could take over the franchise. This news comes after a three-year stretch where the NHL has bankrolled the Phoenix Coyotes.

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